Holding the anti-fracking movement accountable

Vincent Carroll’s column is yet another example of his insight into, and understanding of, the issues regarding development of U.S. domestic energy resources.

Carroll once again pierces what is too often accepted as conventional wisdom in the shale oil and gas debate, and he remains one of the few journalists in the country willing to hold what he terms the “large, abusive and self-righteous” anti-fracking movement accountable for its actions.

I agree completely with his conclusion that Gov. John Hickenlooper should not back down to the “zealots” who oppose drilling. And in the interests of a sane, sound dialog over fracking, we should all be grateful that Carroll hasn’t backed down either.

Jack R. Luellen, Denver

This letter was published in the March 31 edition.

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I’m glad the pro-carbon faithful are writing letters. But we are starting to see more evidence of harm from fracking. It’s perfectly fine to slow down. It’s not fine for corporate profit, but too bad.

Best,

D

guest

The anti-fracking people remind me of the Y2K people. They kept telling us about all the awful things that would happen and nothing ever came of it.

Dano2

They kept telling us about all the awful things that would happen and nothing ever came of it.

ZOMG! Hey, everyone! We have someone from the future on our board! Wow! Hey, buddy, what is the winning Lotto number for next week?

Anyhoo, these oil industry shills remind me of the Tobacco shills. They kept doing anything and everything to hide the evidence.

Best,

D

Kyle Sager

Large companies have been losing money on fracking throughout 2012: They’re dumping the same way the Chinese dump into earmarked markets like photovoltaics. Big Oil companies are counting on (1) Being able to export substantial quantities and (2) Prices rising 80% or more as utilities get locked into new dependencies with natural gas plants. Meanwhile, cheerleaders like Carroll ignore fundamental market dynamics, stubbornly brush off fugitive methane emissions as though they do not exist, turn a blind eye to a myriad of risks such as lung disease from silica (sand dust)…That’s just getting started. He casually dismisses every objection to natural gas fracking by simply ignoring them.

And then there is the whole issue of global warming: University of Delaware, Stanford, NREL, Colorado’s own Rocky Mountain Institute, and others say that technologies are ready now for wind and solar to begin taking over almost completely (80 or 90% by 2050 conservatively); and people like Governor Hickenlooper want to get the country hooked on more finite resources that put our children’s ability to produce food at jeopardy via CO2. What a shame. It’s all about selling the gas, not making wise energy and climate choices.

guest

You and Danny need to get together. You tell us large companies are losing money on fracking while Danny tells us delaying fracking is not fine for corporate profit. Which is it?

guest

While Denver residents are put on mandatory water restrictions, fracking companies are still allowed to use up to 2 MILLION gallons of water for each injection.

Doesn’t anyone else see this as a problem?

Dano2

Remember: Aurora hiked water rates to pay for their new pipeline and WWTP (oops – forget that “growth pays for growth”, everybody!!) and then turned around and leased water to Anadarko. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Best,

D

guest

If you look at water usage in Colorado, you see that the homeowner is not the main user of water. It is in fact industry and specifically agriculture. I know 2 MILLION gallons of water sounds like a lot (especially when you put it in all caps), but it pales by comparison to the amount agriculture uses each day.

Dano2

Everyone always points fingers at ag when water gets tight.

Especially those with enough money to pay much more for food if we were to cut off water to ag, and people start starving.

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